Monday, September 8, 2014

Thoughts Besides Cancer

Although my cancer diagnosis dominated my thoughts in the fall
of 2009, I wanted to let you in on something else I was thinking about at that
time.

Around the same time I was diagnosed with cancer I was
experiencing another traumatic life event. My little brother had just gotten
taller than me. This was not surprising, it was inevitable and logically I knew
that. Yet somewhere deep in the recesses of my cancer-ridden brain was a
10-year-old girl who believed, of course, she'd always be the biggest, she was
the "big" sister after all. That 10-year-old girl resurfaced at this
time and was very disappointed to have been surpassed by her baby brother. I guess
it's like they say, "When it rains it pours." :)

As I have been reflecting on my experience with cancer this
funny little anecdote came up and I thought I should share it because while I
was a cancer patient I was also a big sister thinking about big sister things
like who was the tallest. I was also many other things; I was a friend, a
daughter, a reader, a learner, a teenager, and so many more things. I wanted
to share this story because often sick or disabled people, especially really
sick people, are seen as only that, "a sick person," a symptom, a
disease. When really they are just people who are complex and have hopes and
dreams and desires, they just happen to be sick. I try to remember this and the
work I do with Sunshine Kids and Camp Korey and in life in general. Seeing people
as people breaks down barriers and deepens connections. From experience, I know
that it can also be a gift for someone when you see them as a whole person and not just their disease or disability.

Just so you know, I have come to terms with the fact that my
brother is taller than me. I am now a proud big sister of one amazing big
little brother. (you will hear more about his awesomeness in a future post.)